TIPOFF COUNCIL INCUMBENTS FAR AHEAD IN RACE FOR CAMPAIGN FUNDS.

Byline: RICK ORLOV

As the presidential campaign shows, some wounds never heal.

And while the national debate over Vietnam has far more serious repercussions, the debate over crime and policing that has dominated the mayor's race this past week also has significant consequences.

And, it is a fight that probably only could be waged against Mayor James Hahn by Councilman Bernard Parks, who had 38 years of experience in the LAPD before Hahn refused to reappoint him to a second term as police chief.

Parks is not only questioning the effectiveness of the LAPD under Hahn and Chief Bill Bratton, he is also reviving a debate that was part of the reason he was not reappointed - the three-day workweek of officers.

Hahn was and remains a strong supporter of the program that is widely embraced by cops.

``Crooks don't work 9 to 5,'' Hahn said. ``We need a flexible schedule to assign officers when they are needed the most.''

Ironically, Parks uses a variation of Hahn's reasoning.

``The bad guys don't work only three days a week,'' Parks said.

Also dominating the debate in recent months has been the pace of political contributions and the amounts raised by candidates to get their campaign message out to voters.

Nearly $3 million has been raised so far by candidates for mayor.

Drawing much less attention, however, have been the eight races for City Council to be decided next year, where more than $1.6 million has been raised so far - even with four incumbents facing no challengers so far.

Records filed with the city Ethics Commission show the power of incumbency, even with no election in sight.

Council members with no opposition have raised the following amounts: Dennis Zine, $154,685; Jack Weiss, $254,884; Alex Padilla, $192,261; and Janice Hahn, $133,722.

Incumbents with challengers have easily outraised their opponents. In the 1st Council District, Councilman Ed Reyes has more than $209,000 in the bank, with his nearest challenger having raised $1,025.

In the 9th District, Councilwoman Jan Perry has two opponents - neither of whom has raised any funds, while she has $196,000 in the bank. Likewise, Councilman Eric Garcetti has a campaign fund of $149,000, while his opponent reported having $270 on hand.

The legal saga over a judicial race continued last week when a Superior Court judge ordered changes in one candidate's statements for the sample ballot.

Candidate Donna Groman, who works as a Superior Court commissioner and is running for Superior Court judge, had to modify two references to being a judge after her opponent, prosecutor Judy Levey Meyer, objected.

The week before, Meyer tried unsuccessfully to get another judge to strike her endorsement from state Sen. Richard Alarcon after the Van Nuys Democrat complained she switched political parties after he had already given her support. Alarcon also supported Groman.

Both camps said they were pleased with the latest court action, and said there would be no further challenges, noting the sample ballots have to go to the printer in time for the November election.

The exodus has begun in the offices of Councilwoman Cindy Miscikowski, who is being forced from office next year because of term limits.

Lisa Gritzner, who has been her chief deputy through the extensive and exhaustive debate over the $9.1 billion proposed expansion of Los Angeles International Airport, is leaving in early October.

Gritzner is going to work for the political consulting and lobbying firm of Cerrell Associates. Although she will have to wait a year before she can lobby city officials, Gritzner is expected eventually to fill the role of Howard Sunkin, who left Cerrell earlier this year to work for the Los Angeles Dodgers.

Staff Writer Lisa Mascaro contributed.

Rick Orlov, [phone]

rick.orlov(at)dailynews.com